Primary cell and element thereof



April 6 1926. 1,579,228

lM. L'. MARTUS -E'r AL PRIMARY CELL AND ELEMENT THEREQF Filed r, 4124,925 .3 sheets-Sheet 1 Hilliarf r f 1 April 6 1926. 1,57%,228

M. L. MARTUS ET AL' PRIMARY CELL VAND ELEMENT THEREOF Filed May 24, 19253 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aprl 6 1925. 1,579,228

M. L. MARTUS ET AL v' v PRIMARY CELL AND ELEMENT'THEREOF Filed May 24,1923 s' sheets-s'het :s

1Q Mai lPatented Apr. 6, 1926.

' UNITED s'rfrlss V1,579,228 PATENT OFFICE- MARTIN I.. MAR'rUs, oFWOODBURY, AND JAMES G. Ross AND EDMUND H. BECKER, oF

WATEBBURY,

CONNECTICUT.

:PRIMARY CELL AND ELEMENT THEREOF.

Y Application sled May 24, 1923. se'riai No. 641,210.v

ToaZZwiom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, MARTIN L. MARTUS, JAMES G. Ross, and EDMUND H.BECKER, yall citizens of the United States, vsaid MAR'rUs being aresident of lVoodbury, in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, and said Ross and said BECKER being residents of Waterbury,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Primary Cells and Elementsk'l`hereof, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to primary cells and elements thereof; and itcomprises a heavy duty primary cell, advantageously of the typeemploying copper oxid as a depolarizer and an alkaline electrolyte, saidcell having thev active elements firmly clamped in place and rigidlyheld by the tightening of a single nut and said cell comprising acontainer, a top therefor, an insulating block holding-element carriedby the top, means for securing zinc plates or disks to said block, aflexible clasping band adapted to engage and hold a disk or shortVcylinder of depolarizer, and means.- for clamping the band tothe blockelement; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In the manufacture of heavy-duty primary cells for such purposes asswitch circuits, radio work, shipboard wiring, etc., it is a desideratumto be able to provide a cell of simple structure in which the positiveand negative elements are firmly and Arigidly held in place and in whicheasy and quick assemblage and disassemblage, with exchange or renewal ofsuch elements, `is possible. After a cell has been used as long as maybe deemed expedient, these elements still have some value. In cells ofthe Vzinc-copper oxid type, for example, the residues of the Zinc platescan be remelted and the copper from the copper oxid can bereoxidizedand'used again. And it is desirable to have such a type ofcell that the user 4can readily detach used elements and 'replace themby fresh, turning in the used elements against the cost of new. This isparticularly the case in radioinstallations for receiving purposes andin large-scale in-v stallations on shipboard, railway' signalling, etc.

Inthe present invention this desideratum is met by a particularstructure of holding devices with means for clamping suspended elementsin place on a block of insulating material depending below and held bythe cover of a jar or other suitable container. Weshall hereinafterdescribe it more particularly as applied to a cell of the Zinc-copperoxid type, although the invention is byno means limited thereto. In thistype of cell, sometimes the elements are cylindrical; and sometimes offlat shape. The flat shape has many convenient features; but it isdifficult, with the structures now in use, to secure rigidity with easeof assemblage.

In the present invention, we provide a holding element of insulatingmaterial, generally of ceramic material or glass in cells with analkaline electrolyte, such as the zinccopper oxid type; this elementbeing a block of more or less cubic form. Two faces are used to holdzinc plates; these plates being generally in the form of disks or shortcylinders and the faces being usually recessed somewhat to accommodateandI lit their tops.

The plates are held in place by a transverse bolt; the block beingperforated to accommodate the bolt. The bottomV of the' block is givenan arcuate or curved contour to fit the top of the disk or shortcylinder of depolarizing material forming the negative element. Thiselement may be a body of copper oxid of suitable form; or it may be acan of perforated metal or wire gauze containing copper oxid (or otherdepolarizer). This can may be of tinned'or galvanized metal. a claspingband is used; this band being of thin sheet metal (which may also betinned or galvanized iron) and being adapted to pass over the other twofaces of the block and be there clamped in place. This structure resultsin holding the negative element in place between and parallel to a pairof zinc elements. Usually, said other two faces and the top of the blockare slotted to accommodate the band and give Aaccurate register withprevention of pivotal lturning in assemblage.

The clasping band may be a continuous annulus or a strip offlexiblemetal of sufficient length to permit its being bent into an annulus withoverlapping ends. In either event, it is provided with an orifice, ororifices,l through which canbey passed a headed, bolt-like element,serving tov suspend the whole assemblage from the cover of thecontainer, as a clamping means and as a To hold this element in placecurrent conductor from the negative element. Suitable spacing means areprovided between the bottom of the cover and the top ot the block andthe bolt is provided with suitable lock nuts. By placing the claspingband around the negative element and the bolt through the orifice, ororifices, in the band and screwing the bolt upi'vard, with the aid ofthe nuts. the negative element is forced against the arcuate bottom ofthe block and rigidly held in place. The adjustment of but one nut onthe bolt is necessary in securing rigid assemblage.

In the accompanying drawings are showin more or less diagrammatically,certain embodiments of the described invention, the same referencenumerals in the di'li'erent views indicating corresponding parts.

Fig. l is a fragmentary central vertical section through a primary cell,certain parts being shown in elevation; v

Fig. 9. isa similar view at right angles to the view of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot yoke-like spacing' and clampingelements;

Fig. et is another view ot' a modified spacing element;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an insulating block 'for holding thepositive and negative elements;

Fig. 6 is a. view ot' a clasping band in the Hat;

F ig. 7 is a similar fragmentary view ot a modified clasping band:

Fig. S is a fragmentary view showing the use of this moditied claspingband;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary central vertical section of a cell wherein sucha clamping yoke as that of Figs. 3 and it is not used:

Fig. 10 is another view of the same structure at right angles to theview ot Fig. t);

Fig. il is a view similar to Fig. l, showing another modification;

Fig. 12 is al view of a structure of Fig. 11 at right angles thereto;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view ot a modihed block ot' aninsulating.r material;

Fig. l-'lis a fragmentary sectional view ol a modilied Vtorni otsuspension;

Fig. l5 is a view similar to Fig. .il showing a metallic shoe l'iearingfor the bolt;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view ot' the shoe shown in Fig. l5; and

Fig. 'i7 is a fragmentary central vertical scc-tion showing a negativeelement and clasping band with clamping` in a ditlierent way.

Reterring lirst to Fig. l, element l is a. suitable container` usually aglass jar, surinounted b v a cover 2 ot porcelain, gla hard rubber orother insulating material. Porcelain or other ceramic material isusually employed. As shown. this top is provided with a central orilice3 through which passes a metal bolt-like holding element l which alsoforms one electric terminal. Above the cover this bolt element isprovided with washers 5A, lock nut 5 and wing nuts t3; below the coverand encircling the bolt is a square nut 7A and a spacing element 7abutting against the cover. Below this element T and also held on thebolt rlv is clamping yoke S. Yvvithin the yoke located a holding elementt) 'formed by a block ot' porcelain or other suitable insulatinginaterial (sce Fig. 5). Passing through this block is a metal bolt l0tree Fig. 2) which can be utilized to hold two Zinc plates ll in place;the porcelain being suitably recessed (as shown in Fig. a) to receivetheir tops and give accurate placement thereto. Connected to this boltl() is an insulated terminal wire i2 passing through a lateral orilicein the top or cover. The negative electrode may take the form ot a soliddisk oll agglomerated copper oxid or other depolarizing agent or suchdepolarizing agent may be contained in a round can-like clement oi'perforated metal or wire netting; shown rather diagrammatically at 1:',in Fig; l. The bottom ot the block i) is made arcuate to lit and givepositive engagement willi the top oi. this disk-like negative element.Fai circling and clasping the negative element is a holding band lll,shown in the llat in Fig. (3. )it the ends this band if; provided withperforations 15 adapted to receive the holding bolt element -.l-.lilhere the negative electrode is a block or disk ot agglomerated copperoxid or other dcpolarizing agent` as it may be, we use the type ol bandshown as Mb in Fig. 7; this band beingprovided with bendable laterallugs or llanges ll. .v\.-: shown in Fig. S, these lugs may be bentaround to engage a block ot copper oxid i7. Using a perforated canisterwith ridged edges to hold the depolarizing element, as shown 'in Fig. l,the simple straight metal strip shown in the tlat in Fig. t sullirient.

In assembling the cell, or in renewing the Zines or the negativeelectrode. as the rare may be. the band l-lor ll-h may be benl aroundthe disk-like negative electrode with bolt element -lpassing throughperforation# l5'. '.l`hepo1'eelain block E) if, then slipped into place.and yoke S.s1i;it-ei and nut T`^ placed on the bolt Al. lly suitablymanipulating nut 7^, yoke S is forced downward on bolt l. The yoke iormsa clamping engagement with hand il or il, as the case may be. holding'it securely in place. 'l`he Zine elements are placed in position be'loreor al'ter doing this, by means ot bolt lt). lolt -l is then passedthrough the oriliee in the rover and washers 5A, nut 5 and wingr nutsIt3 are applied.

As will be seen ifrom the drawing and description. in this cell the zineelements and the depolarizing elements are lirmly and ilu lllfi liul'lll rigidly held, beingsecure against displace.

ment and vibration, while nevertheless either can be readily removed andreplaced by the use of simple tools. l

In using primary cells in battery for switch circuits, radio work, etc.,itis customary to use a number of such cells in battery; the cells beingplaced in fixed relation to each other. From time to time it becomesnecessary to replace the Zines and the depolarizing elements and itisdesirable to be able to do `this without disturbing the batteryarrangement. This is readily possible under the present invention. Forexample, a number of these cells can be used to furnish energy in aradio outiit '(as the A, the B or-.the C battery, as the case may be),andas the activity of any particular cell diminishes, new activeelements can be readily inserted without disturbance of the battery as awhole. It is a simple matter of removing the top of a particular celltogether with the depending` active elements. If the Zincs are to berenewed, this is readily accomplished by removing .the bolt 10. If thenegative electrode is to be changed, on loosening nut 7A the clampingengagement on band 14 is loosened and a new negative electrode can beslipped into place.

In the modifications ,shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the porcelainblock 19 diiiers from that of Fig. 5 in being provided with recesses 2O(see Fig. 13). In assembling the cell shown in Fig. 9, the band 14 or14D may be bent around the disk-like negative electrode with the boltelement 4 passing through.` perforations `15. The porcelain block 19 isthen slipped into place,and spacer 7 (inverted with respect to itsposition shown in Fig. 1') and clamping nut 75 are placed on the bolt 4.The downwardly dependingarms of the spacer 7 are positioned in therecesses 20 which prevent rotation of the spacer. The clamping nut isthen suitably manipulated to pull the bolt 4 upwardly within the spacer,thereby tightening the band 14,v and pushing block 19 against negativeelectrode 13 and serving to hold the electrode, iirmly in place. TheZinc elements may be placed in position and the entire assemblagepositioned on the battery cover 2, all as. previously described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the assembly shown in Fig.9 is changed by the addition of the clamping yoke 8 (see Fig. 1), whichis forced down on the bolt by means of the nut 21 (similar to nut 7A.Fig. 1), thereby drawing in the band 14 and firmly securing the negativeelectrode 13 to the block 19. In the manufacture of the negativeelectrodes in large quantities, any excessive variation in circumferenceis provided for bythe additional take-'up afforded by spacer 7 and nut7A operating as shown in Fig. 9. i f

In the modification .shown inFig. 14, the

of parts, porcelain block 22 differing.-i'roinl that of Fig. 5 in beingprovided with recess 23 which is adapted to receive the lower end ofbolt 24, which bolt is slotted aty its upper end at 25 to aliord a meansfor turning the bolt. Nut 26 is positioned onthe bolt 24 between theblock 22 and the band 14 and by turning the bolt in such a way, as toraise the nut, the band 14 is pulled tight and the negative electrode isheld irmly against the block. As is shown 'in Fig. 15, a metallic shoe27, shown in detail in Fig.k 16, may be used to give a bearing :for thelower end of the bolt 24 when block-9 (Fig. 5) or block 19 (Fig. 13) isused in place of block 22 (Fig. 14). Y

Another means for holding the negative electrode irmly against theinsulating block is that shown in Fig. 17. The negative eleci trode 13is held by annularbagnd 14C, provided with diametrically disposedperforaassembly` is made with the minimum number tions, through one ofwhich is passed bolt14 and through the other 4or' which is passed bolt28, provided with nut 29., The head of the bolt 4 is positioned in therecess 18 of.,

block 9 (see Fig. 5) and the band 14c is Y 1. In an electric cell,a'disk-like electrode and means for suspending the same, saidl meanscomprising a flexible band encircling the disk-like electrodeperipherally, means connected to `the band arranged to exerta pullthereon radially withrespect to said disk-like electrode, and meansarranged to exert pressure on the disk-like electrode and,V cooperatingwith means exerting the pull to tighten the band around said disk-likeelectrode. l

2. In an electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means for suspendingthe same, said means comprising a flexible bandencircling 'the electrodeperipherally, means for exerting a pull on the band radially withrespect to the. electrode and means associated with the sald pullingmeans for exerting a pressure on the electrode in an opposite direction,whereby the band is tightened around 'the electrode.. 1-

3. In a. primary cell having depending positive and negative elements,said negative element being of round cross-section, a block ofinsulating material, a bolt-like element A carrying the block, aflexible clasping band adapted to encircle the negative element andtightemng means comprising a nut on said r bolt-like element forclamping said band agail'lst said block and around said negativeelement.

4. In an electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means for suspendingthe same, said means comprising a flexible band encircling the disk-likeelectrode peripherally, a bolt connected to theband arranged to exert apull thereon radially with respect to the disk-like electrode, meansarranged to exert pressure on the disk-like electrode, and a nut on saidbolt arranged to move said pressure exerting means whereby it cooperateswith the bolt to tighten the band around said disk-like electrode.

5. In a electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means lor suspendingthe saine, said means comprising a llexible band encircling thedisk-like electrode peripherally, means connected to the band arrangedto exert a pull thereon radially with respect to said disk-likeelectrode, an insulating member arranged to exert pressure on thedisk-like electrode and means on the said pulling means arranged toi'orce the said insulating member in an opposite direction to the pullof said pulling means to tighten the band around said disk-likeelectrode.

6. In an electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means for suspendingthe same, said means comprising a flexible band encircling the disk-likeelectrode peripherally, a bolt having means thereon arranged to exert apull radially with respect to the disk-like electrode, an insulatingblock between the end of said block and said disk-like element andseated on said disk-like element engaged on its upper face by said boltand means associated with the said bolt ior exerting pressure on saidblock in an opposite direction to the pull of the means on said bolt.

7. In an electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means for suspendingthe same, said means comprising a flexible band encircling the disk-likeelectrode peripherally, means arranged to exert a pull thereon radiallywith respect to the electrode, means arranged to exert a pressure on thedisk-like electrode, wherebyT the band is tightened around theelectrode, and additional means straddling the pressure exerting meansengaging the said band and resisting the pull exerted thereon by thesaid pulling means.

8. In an electric cell, a disk-like electrode and means tor suspendingthe same, said means comprising a flexible band encircling the.disk-like electrode peripherally, means for exerting a pull on saidband, means for exerting a pressure in opposite direction on saidelectrode and means straddling the said pressure exerting means engagingthe band and resisting the pull thereon by the said pulling means, thesaid straddling means being provided With a member arranged to exertpressure on the pressure means and means on the pulling means operablyconnected thereto to torce the said straddling means downwardly againstthe said pressure exerting means.

9. In an electric cell, a. disk-like electrode and means torsuspen-:ling the same, said means comprising a tlexible band encirclingthe disk-like elertrfale peripherally, a bolt engaging' said band, aninsulator block between said bolt and electrode whereby the band is heldove` said block by said bolt, a yoke straddling said blos-k and havingportions engaging said band, said yoke being carried b v said bolt. anda nut on said bolt engaging said yoke, whereby when the said nut ismoved downwardly on said bolt it torres said voke downwardly and causestightening ol the band around said electrode.

l0. An electric cell comprising a container lor an electrolyte, a toptor said container, a negative electrode. a flexible band tor supportingthe same, an insulator block seated on sai-:l electrode and carryingpositive elements at either side in proximity to said negativeelectrode, a bolt arranged to bear upon said block and carrying theband, a spacing element extending upwardly and engaging the under side.of the top ot said container, a clamping yoke extending downwardly andstraddling said block and engaging the said band, and a nut on said boltarranged to tighten said `yoke in straddling position against: said bandto torre the band tightly around said electrode.

ll. In an electric cell, a container and a top therefor, means forsuspending the positive and negative elements from the top, said meanscomprising an insulating block having means for suspending positiveplates at either end and being provided at its base with a seat t'orreception ot a portion ot the negative element, a negati'i'e clement ofsubstantially disk-like torni having a portion seated in the seat otsaid block, a flexible band encircling the said negative elementperiplierally, a bolt-like element secured to the top engaging the saidband and arranged to exert a pull thereon and means operable withrespect to said bolt-like clement tor exerting a pressure on lsaid blockand cansv ing it to lirmly engage the said negative electrode.

l2. In an electric cell, a container and top therefor, means t'orsuspending the positive and negative elements At'rom the top, said meanscomprising an insulating block having means for suspending positiveplates at either end and being provided at its base with a seat torreception ot a portion ot the negative element, and being provided withrecesses at the trout and back for reception ot a supporting band, anegative element ot substantially disk-like lorm having a portion seatedin the seat ot said block, a

loo

'IUS

Hexible band encircling the said negative element periphera-lly andConfined in part of the recesses ofseid block, zi bolt-likev elementsecured to the top engaging the said bend and arrangefzil to exert npull thereon and ineens operable with respeot to said bolt-like elementfor exerting a pressure on said block :1nd causing it to firmly engagethe said nega-tive electrode.

13. In an electric cell, means for suspending the positive and negativeelements therein7 said means comprising an insulating block having meansfor suspending the positive plates at either end and being provided atits base. with a seat for reception of a portion of the negativeelement, a negative element of substantially disk-like form having 'n`portion seated in the seat of said block, n flexible band encircling thesaid negative element peripherally, a bolt-like element engaging thesaidband and arranged to exert n pull thereon and a yokelike member onseid bolt and engaging said block, :ind means on the bolt for causingysaid yoke-like member to exert aL pressure on the block and for Causingthe bolt to exert a pull on the band.

In witness whereof We have hereunto signed our names at W'ziterbury,Connectiout, this 21st day of May, 1923.

MARTIN L. MAETUS. JAMES G. Ross. EDMUND H. BECKER.

